A carer at a former children’s home in Hornchurch has been jailed for nine years for child sexual abuse.

Paul Setchfield was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday, October 12, after he was found guilty of indecently assaulting a girl and boy, both aged under 14, while he worked at St Leonard’s Children’s Home.

The 64-year-old from Cromer, Norfolk, was convicted on 11 charges of child sex abuse between October 1978 and November 1981 while a member of staff with the title of ‘house parent’.

St Leonards operated from around 1950 until 1985, when it was closed down. It was run for part of this time by Tower Hamlets Borough of London. It was also known as Cottage Homes as it was divided into separate homes of about 30 children looked after by two house parents.

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The court heard the female victim, who is now in her 40s, contacted police in 2011 after being given access to her social services file.

She was interviewed by officers from the. During two police interviews with the Met’s Child Protection Team she said she was sexually abused by Setchfield who on two occasions took her into his bed in the ‘sleep over’ room for staff.

The victim said Setchfield also drove her to motels in Kent and Chester and took her to his friend’s flat where sexual abuse took place.

The male victim, who is now in his 40s, came forward to police in 2013 and said he had witnessed the abuse of the girl. He said Setchfield had also got into bed with him and sexually abused him.

Setchfield was interviewed by police in June 2012 and August 2013. He denied the allegations against him in prepared statements and replied ‘no comment’ to all questions put to him.

Officers in the Met’s Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command obtained statements from a number of witnesses who corroborated what the victims had said and Setchfield was charged with 11 counts of indecent assault in May 2016.

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He was convicted of 11 charges of indecent assault, eight against the girl and three against the boy, after a one-week trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court earlier this month.

Detective Constable Daniel Stevens, of the Met’s Child Abuse and Sexual Offences (CASO) Command, said: “Setchfield continued to deny he was responsible for the abuse, even after being confronted with the compelling testimony from the two victims, along with corroborating witness statements. Although it has taken more than 30 years for the victims to gain justice, Setchfield has now been brought to account for his actions.”

Detective Inspector Debbie McCormack, of the Met’s Child Abuse and Sexual Offences (CASO) Command, said: “I would like to praise the victims in this case for having the courage to come forward and report the abuse and give evidence in court.

"I would urge anyone who has suffered abuse to come forward and contact your local police service.

"We take all allegations of this type extremely seriously, and we ensure that victims are supported throughout the process."

If you would like to report any offences, call 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you would prefer to remain anonymous.